Spotting Malingering Kids

Kids often fake worse visual acuities than they have in order to get glasses – since glasses are now cool. For many young optometry students, this can be a confusing and stressful first time situation. Here’s one approach you could take to spot a malingerer:
1.Take visual acuities sc and do retinoscopy, then perform your manifest refraction. If no Rx is indicated yet the VA is still unimproved or not 20/20…

2.Trial frame +/- 0.12 or 0.25 (the smallest sphere you have) OU and see the difference, telling them, “This is your glasses prescription…” A malingering kid will IMMEDIATELY notice a huge change and be easily 20/20 or better. If they don’t immediately improve…

3.Probe more with near testing, your slit lamp exam or a thorough DFE.